Lakers are a mess

[hwangjini_1]

so, as i understand it, the lakers next year have around $42 million of their payroll tied up in three players:

- aging kobe,
- steve "the corpse" nash, and,
- jeremy lin, who has averaged 13 points and 5 assists the last two seasons.

i am so happy right now. 

[Afam]

so, you have Kobe making 20 million$ a year.

They just lost out on the melo sweepstakes, and now Gasol is out the door. what do the Lakers do next? Also, they dont have any assets really to make any significant trades. and there arent many top free agents out on the market anymore.

in a way I kind of feel bad for Kobe(actually I dont because his contract is rediculous) that he is going to play his last few years on a middling-bad team.

23.5 million and then 25 million, that's a lot worse than 20 million bro.

This is not Me. Anyone that is impersonating me should stop. I never made this Account. Remove the Picture immediately. Mods please Disable this Account.

[dreamgreen]

I've been saying this for 2 weeks, it's great HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

They wont  be a legit team the rest of Kobe's career, no more Pau Gasol for a box of donuts trades, time for them to suffer!!!!!

Like to see them getting bad lottery picks for the next 5 years.

[Birdman]

But I am surprise that Melo did not pick the Lakers...like to know what Phil promise him

[perks-a-beast]

The only thing Lakers fans have to look forward to is Julius Randle. He's the only Laker I've liked since Shaq. But heres to hoping they have a long long long long drought.

[thehumburger]

Sorry to be so cynical but the Lakers will always be fine because all they need is cap space.  I get that it's not working out for them this off-season but that is an aberration.  Lakers will put 2 top ten players on the court together within 5 years. They haven't gone 5 years without having the best plyer in the league or 2-3 top 10 players since they moved to LA.  Compare that with every other team in the league.  The lakers GM job is the easiest in all major sports -- clear space, get your guy.  They stupidly overpaid Kobe but worst case that will hurt them for 2 years. 

Unfortunately, they'll be fine.

Nah it's not that easy. LA hasn't signed a top 10 free agent since Shaq in the mid/late 90s. The whole "some teams attract major free agents easier than others" is way overblown as those types of free agents simply don't move that often. The next top 10 free agent to move after Shaq was LeBron, almost 15 years later. And it's even more difficult now with the new CBA. If you want one chances are you have to draft or trade for one, and the Lakers don't have many assets to trade right now. I think there's a good chance they could be in for a bit of a drought.

[Donoghus]

They're just treading water to summer '16.

That's when they're gonna try & strike, IMO.

[GreenFaith1819]

And a hot one, at that.

[Birdman]

I say ALOT of players does not want to play with Kobe

[moiso]

I don't like it when traditional teams like the Lakers or Knicks are struggling. I much prefer seeing them do well than new teams like Orlando or Oklahoma.

I find it to be hilarious and gratifying when they are struggling.

I think the league is better when the Lakers are good.  I like to have villains to root against, and it's hard to get very excited watching teams beat a crappy Lakers team.

I'm actually going to miss Miami as they were constructed because they were the ultimate villains.  But now I guess I have another team to root against- the Cavs.  Sure, Lebron joining them again is a feel good story, but I'm sure the team will become annoying to me pretty quickly.

[colincb]

But I am surprise that Melo did not pick the Lakers...like to know what Phil promise him

They could offer more money. Knicks made Anthony a maximum contract offer of $129 million over five years and the Lakers put out $96 million over four years.  Some people prefer NYC over LA too. I think his wife does IIRC.

[the_Bird]

I don't like it when traditional teams like the Lakers or Knicks are struggling. I much prefer seeing them do well than new teams like Orlando or Oklahoma.

It's nice to see some small-market teams have success, but yeah - if you're a fan of the NBA, and want the league to have success as a whole, you need to see the core franchises doing well.  The teams that sell a lot of jerseys nationwide when they're successful, the teams that have causal fans all over the country.  Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, and Knicks are the four that come to mind; the league is better when those teams are relevant. 

[makaveli]

so, as i understand it, the lakers next year have around $42 million of their payroll tied up in three players:

- aging kobe,
- steve "the corpse" nash, and,
- jeremy lin, who has averaged 13 points and 5 assists the last two seasons.

i am so happy right now. 

And on top of all that, they have mike no d anthony handling their bench
Buahahahaha

[SCeltic34]

I was about to make a similar thread.

I'm loving watching the Lakers pay for their arrogance.  They obviously think they can just clear out cap space and that the top free agents will automatically gravitate to their franchise because of the weather and glamour.  Screw the Lakers and their self-entitled fan base. 

However, I actually want them to acquire some decent veterans to play respectable basketball, hopefully enough to make the 8th seed and then get knocked out in the first round.  I'm not sure of their future draft status, but I don't want to see them getting any more top 10 picks.

[j804]

so, as i understand it, the lakers next year have around $42 million of their payroll tied up in three players:

- aging kobe,
- steve "the corpse" nash, and,
- jeremy lin, who has averaged 13 points and 5 assists the last two seasons.

i am so happy right now. 

you forgot Nick Young think he signed up longterm lol